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An "unconventional" local printmaker has revealed how he would put his unique stamp on the island - including a Wicker Man-inspired Bergerac reboot.
After 20 years away from Jersey to study at the prestigious Slade School of Fine Art in London and then Architectural Conservation at Edinburgh University, Tim Le Breuilly returned two years ago.
During his time away, he picked up a new practice, printmaking, of which he has been trying to break the convictions earning the title of "unconventional printmaker."
Earlier this year, Tim presented 'Lé Galvaûdeaux' - ‘wanderer’ or ‘roamer’ in Jèrriais - at the Link Gallery. The exhibition included a collection of prints, etchings and oil paintings that nostalgically showcased the places he fondly remembers growing up with, as well as those he got to know later in life.
Tim is also a teacher at Highlands College and tries his best to demystify his etching students' preconceptions about art.
While Tim spends most of his time making prints in his St. Helier-based studio, he also paints, although admittedly not as often as he used to. He recently put his brush skills to the test by painting a mural at Bel Royal School as part of the Skipton School Mural Project.
Today, however, he's painting a picture of the island life he'd like to see...
It's great that Monty Tadier has recently managed to get a commitment by the States to increase the funding for arts and heritage. It will give the sector a much needed boost and it will be interesting to see how that money trickles down.
Pictured: Tim thinks a percentage of funds should made available to creative incentives with a transparent application and evaluation process.
I'd like to see a percentage of those additional funds made available to creative incentives with a transparent application and evaluation process. This would compliment the great work ArtHouse Jersey does, and could have a greater grassroots impact rather than the money being swallowed up by some of the existing larger associations.
Against a wider shifting political background of Neo Medievalism, Jersey should address feudalism. I'd put a cap on the amount of land able to be purchased by 1(1)(k)'s (otherwise known as high-value residents).
We have a shortage of space, and housing has been cited as a problem in attracting workers in the social sector to the island.
Pictured: Tim says there should be a cap on the amount of land high-value residents can purchase.
The Housing Committee may grant consent to an individual to purchase certain properties in Jersey where ‘the Committee is satisfied that consent can be justified on social and economic grounds."
In practice, consent is rarely granted to 1(1)(k)'s based on "social" grounds. We run the risk of Jersey becoming a hollow island about significant digits on a screen, where investment in property benefits those already wealthy enough to the detriment of any community.
Art isn't just about producing products, it's about the exchange of skills and ideas and we need more provisions for this to take place. Engaging with art, culture and heritage is proven to enhance health and wellbeing, which in turn reduces the costs and pressure on the Mental Health and Health Services.
Pictured: Tim at work on his mural at Bel Royal School. (Holly Smith)
This year, I've been lucky to be involved in the Skipton Mural Project. It would be great to see more of these sort of projects perhaps in the form of larger installations.
Jersey is definitely somewhere that needs to embrace the 'Farm to fork' or 'Farm to plate' movement more. Incentives such as SCOOP are helping with this but we should follow the example of places such as Crete, where it has always been a part of their culture to eat a diet of fresh, seasonal and locally sourced produce. It’s not all about ‘organic’ there are plenty of allotments and smaller market gardens for whom it’s not viable to be certified.
Pictured: SCOOP, the Sustainable Cooperative aims to create a more sustainable supply of food on the island.
The current model of exporting to supermarkets and supermarkets importing our food onto the island with all the shipping and driving involved just seems a bit bonkers. Realistically I’d have to see that farmers were given more financial assistance or incentives to help a steady transition to a more sustainable model but a shift in peoples taste and buying habits can also drive such a transition.
My last suggestion/demand is one that I would enforce with an iron fist if I was in a position of authority - not that I’d want to be in a position of authority.
Pictured: It was announced earlier this year that classic TV crime drama Bergerac was being rebooted for a new series.
I’d personally oversee the Bergerac Reboot to make sure it contains all the essential flavoursof Jersey that made the initial drama so great: obligatory use of the tunnel as a teleportation device, and the reintroduction of public telephone boxes (especially out of context), for example.
Personally I’d like to see a mash-up of Bergerac, The Wicker Man and the KLF story: Bergerac is called in to investigate the disappearance of a consultant from the UK dressed as Punch, and the ritual burning of a million pounds at Le Pinacle.
Video: Tim's version of Bergerac would be partly inspired by popstar pranksters KLF, who explain in this interview why they decided to burn one million pounds.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not the Bailiwick Express.
Pictured top: Tim caught on camera by Holly Smith.
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